Clerkenwell

Clerkenwell is a neighborhood of central London. It was named for a place near a well where clergymen performed mystery plays during the Middle Ages, and it was the site of an ancient priory. During the Elizabethan era, Clerkenwell was infamous as a red light district, and it became home to three prisons. During the 17th centruy, however, South Clerkenwell became a fashionable place of residence where Oliver Cromwell lived. The Industrial Revolution led to the rise of breweries, distilleries, printhouses, and the clockmaking industry, and Clerkenwell became home to a significant Italian population. It also became a center of the Chartists during the 19th century and the communists during the early 20th century, and the left-leaning newspapers The Guardian and The Observer were based in Clerkenwell until 2008. After the end of World War II, Clerkenwell declined due to deindustrialization, and several council housing estates were established. In 1965, Clerkenwell became a part of the borough of Islington. During the 1980s, gentrification led to a revival, and it became home to young professionals, nightclubs, and restaurants, and it still has a strong Italian character.